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On-farm hatching in broiler fattening to minimise the use of antibiotics
Project
Project code: 2820MDT242
Contract period: 01.02.2023
- 30.09.2025
Budget: 139,249 Euro
Purpose of research: Demonstration
Keywords: antibiotics, meat, poultry, husbandry techniques, animal health, animal welfare, organic farming
The objective of this project is to reduce the use of antibiotics in broiler fattening by on-farm hatching. On-farm hatching is intended to increase animal health and consequently reduce the incidence of bacterial diseases in the flocks. For this purpose, various parameters that can be influenced by on-farm hatching are taken into account, collected, evaluated and made available to the practice. The project is divided into two phases. In phase 1, four farms are accompanied that already use the method of on-farm hatching and thus have previous experience (lighthouse farms). The experiences of the lighthouse farms as well as the data collected in this first phase will be passed on in phase 2 as knowledge transfer to six farms (two with fast-growing broiler, two with slow-growing broiler and two organic farms), that are using on-farm hatching for the first time (newcomers). The following questions are to be dealt with and answered in the project by on-farm hatching: - To what extent can on-farm hatching minimise the occurrence of bacterial infections? - How does on-farm hatching affect the health status (incl. stress level) of the animals with different husbandry procedures and genetics? - Which climatic parameters are important for on-farm hatching and what effects do these parameters have on on-farm hatching? - What is the impact of on-farm hatching on the economic result? - How does the vaccination in the barn (necessary by on-farm hatching) affect the immune status? - What animal welfare and legal requirements must be observed in the procedure and how should 'stuck chicks' and non-viable chicks be dealt with from an animal welfare point of view? - What are the advantages and disadvantages of the procedures and techniques used in practice?
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal Husbandry
- Animal health
